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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Jury Duty

222 replies

Chickenkeev · 18/10/2023 08:48

Has anyone ever done it? I've never been called (thank fk!) but i'm curious as to what it's like. In one way it could be really interesting, and in another way it could be really traumatising. And, in the traumatising cases, is there any aftercare?

OP posts:
BeaLola · 19/10/2023 08:44

I did it about15 years ago - I was at court for 2 weeks and served on 1 jury for about 7 days. It was a trial where we were in and out of the court all the time due to legal arguments that we were not allowed to hear - defendant had schizophrenia

We were given token lunch vouchers for in-house canteen or could go out to local cafe and pay . I was lucky as my firm paid me in full whilst I was there and I parked for free at work which was near to court. Most people on the jury were glad it was a short trial as the "pay" and "parking " they could claim was much less than their normal wages etc .

It was interesting to do - glad I didn't get selected for the next trial as that a murder case of a teenager.

A couple of years later my friend served on a jury and whilst only 3 weeks it was in December and she missed all her dcs Christmas plays and events.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 19/10/2023 08:46

I've never been called (I'm 60) and I always thought I'd want to do it. But I don't think I'd be much good because I cannot make a decision to save my life I'd be saying "GUILTY!" and then someone would throw in a comment and I'd be sating"NOT GUILTY!" and so on.

(Librans eh 🙄)

MerelyPlaying · 19/10/2023 08:48

called for the first time last year at 61. Never got as far as a trial, they had 42 people and three courts sitting and I was in the six that didn’t get used. A lot of sitting around but thankfully after two days was able to go home and wait to see if I’d be needed, and by the end of Week 1 I was discharged.

Take your own lunch, they had big fridges in the waiting area because once you’re called you can’t leave the court. But don’t take a metal fork - another juror had hers confiscated by security as we came into the building!

you can use laptops, phones etc in the waiting area, but obviously not once you’re on a trial. You get lots of information before you start about what they will pay for travel, parking etc - keep all your receipts, you will need them.

I am self-employed and I had to produce a copy of my last year’s tax return but I got paid (I only work part time so probably didn’t lose out) and the lunch allowance is standard.

Yes, it’s a pain in the arse to do, but it’s a civic duty – somebody has to do it, and if you only left to the people who WANT to do it you wouldn’t have a representative group of the population.

SallyWD · 19/10/2023 08:49

I did it once. It was an interesting experience. Our particular case wasn't hugely traumatic so I didn't suffer. It last 2 weeks so didn't drag on forever. I'd like to be called up again but really couldn't cope with anything related to child abuse.

Lilz0991 · 19/10/2023 09:34

There is a lot of waiting around before you're assigned a case, and even when you're on a case, you'll find yourself in and out of the courtroom whilst certain things are clarified with the judge / legal teams, which can get a bit boring. I was also worried that sitting listening to people for hours was going to be hard, and was worried I'd nod of, but the time in the courtroom was actually so interesting due to the way the barristers build up their case.

The nature of the case was rather emotionally draining though (historic childhood SA, which was a 'he said she said' situation). What I found particularly distressing was the other jurors attitude towards the lady, people's lack of empathy, and their lack of understanding of how trauma can affect people (e.g that it might lead to them not speaking out at the time of the abuse).

I also didn't like how the level of cross examination of the defendant was minimal compared to the plaintiff (guess it's due to funding). Evidence was used to try and show that she has lied in the past, and to plant doubt about her credibility in the case, but no one really questioned or focused on whether they thought the man was lying / was credible.

Overall very interesting, but also disheartening to see what victims have to go through if their case reaches court, and how hard it is for sexual abuse cases to be successful.

In terms of support, think the advice was speak to your GP or Samaritans if you need support after the trial.

Chickenkeev · 19/10/2023 09:45

It's disheartening to hear there's no support. Some of these cases must be awful to sit through. Telling you to call the Samaritans really doesn't cut it 😔

OP posts:
ntmdino · 19/10/2023 10:53

motherofcatsandbears · 19/10/2023 08:40

I did jury service just over 20 years ago and loved it. Yes, I was nervous at first, but the ushers and staff tell you what is expected of you and offer advice.
The jury fore(woman/ man) usually sits in the first place on the front row, so avoid that seat if you don’t want to deliver the verdict.

When I did it, it was a case of elect a foreperson -> they walk in first.

Of course, because I was actually interested in the legal process and able to string a couple of coherent sentences together, I was elected in both cases I was on.

I'd say the lesson is that, if you don't want to be fore, make efforts to appear completely vapid and unlikable until that part of the process is over ;)

DonnaBanana · 19/10/2023 11:04

I can’t wait, they will have a field day with me. I take reasonable doubt very seriously and it would have to be extremely clear cut for me to ever consider giving a guilty verdict to anyone. I’d also use my conscience with things like eco protesters or drug cases, it’s legal to do so even if they don’t like it!!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 19/10/2023 11:15

I did a couple of years ago .
The courts checked that none of the jury knew anyone involved or indeed that area of the UK.
Lots of waiting about ,the Jury has to be in by a given time but it might be 90 minutes till you’re called into your gallery. First day is swearing in so lots more waiting.

it is interesting and daunting that as a group of twelve you are making decisions on someone else’s life.
Ours wasn’t a sex abuse or neglect case but there was violence

JudgeJ · 19/10/2023 11:20

BlueDa1sy · 18/10/2023 11:16

How long between getting the letter and being called up is it?

I got the letter on Tuesday this week and it's for Dec 11th for 10 days, possibly longer depending on the cases being tried.

flumposie · 19/10/2023 11:22

I was called in my early 20s but got out of it as I had just moved away. Husband did it 2 years ago. A harrowing case which coincided with his mum in hospital dying. They would not release him from it until the day she died. We missed saying goodbye to her as she lived in another part of the country. That anniversary was yesterday.

timetorefresh · 19/10/2023 11:23

My dad was foreman on a really horrible murder case. Put me off ever wanting to do it

SquigglePigs · 19/10/2023 11:34

Morph22010 · 18/10/2023 19:35

@SquigglePigs check your house insurance, if you have legal cover it also generally covers you for loss of earnings

Thanks for the tip. We'll check it out.

Chickenkeev · 19/10/2023 11:35

flumposie · 19/10/2023 11:22

I was called in my early 20s but got out of it as I had just moved away. Husband did it 2 years ago. A harrowing case which coincided with his mum in hospital dying. They would not release him from it until the day she died. We missed saying goodbye to her as she lived in another part of the country. That anniversary was yesterday.

That's awful! Your poor H 😓

OP posts:
Bundtbake · 19/10/2023 11:45

I did it about thirty years ago.
I loved it! It was fascinating watching the barristers and the judge. The barristers seemed just like actors to me.
The whole logistics of it was interesting.
I sat on three cases, the other jury members were so totally different.
I can honestly say I throughly enjoyed it!

Enko · 19/10/2023 11:48

Dh did it 14 days about 20 years ago now.. it floored us financially as he was self employed (he tried to get out but was told no) and I was a SAHM.

It took him years to stop having nightmares about some of the photos he saw.

Lulu1919 · 19/10/2023 11:57

I've done it twice
Quite enjoyed the process seeing behind the scenes meeting new people etc

SquigglePigs · 19/10/2023 12:11

NonMiDispiace · 18/10/2023 11:30

You definitely wouldn’t be allowed your laptop, your phones are removed during the security searches too.

That's not the case at all. The info we've been provided says specifically you are allowed phones, laptops etc. as long as you don't use the camera inside the court.

The guidance states "There's likely to be time when you are waiting, so we advise you to bring a laptop, book, electronic device, magazine or paper to help pass the time. You can bring phones/tablets to court but you must not use the camera or recording functions within the court building."

HipTeens · 19/10/2023 15:30

I recently watched a jury return a verdict in a case very close to me.

I can't contact them IRL but I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their hard work, consideration and compassion.

That those strangers took the time and effort to consider something that had such importance for me, and to deal with it so sensitively, I am very grateful.

Thank you to those twelve people.

sthitch · 19/10/2023 23:09

I've never been called. I remember in primary school we had a trip to the local Magistrates Court, where we got to watch a few hearings. Has anyone else done this? I wonder if schools still do this. Can you imagine going in for a speeding offence to be greeted by a class of children in the public gallery! I'm surprised the court let us in, but I've had a fascination with crime and punishment ever since.

sthitch · 19/10/2023 23:12

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but it's worth watching "the murder trial" (I think its called!) on BBC, where you can watch two trials recorded in Scotland, see the evidence and then the outcome. Channel 4 also have one with the same/similar title.

Windowsdown6819 · 20/10/2023 21:43

I have just completed jury service 2 weeks ago (in scotland)

Alot of waiting around. Very interesting and very very boring at times too.

It was only meant to last a day and lasted over a week, there was that many delays, so you can imagine how much sitting around that entailed.

Lunch was provided. Employer pays your wages then claims it back from the court (if that is your employers policy) some employers will pay for jury service - mine do.

Phones are taking off you. No security procedure is such. It was please stick your phone in that cupboard. Once in the jurors room, you can't leave. Very boring. You need to amuse yourselfs for sometimes hours at time making talk with complete strangers.

Someone asked to bring a laptop and was told it wasn't allowed. If you needed to make a phone call, you had to do it in their presence.

I don't think I would want to do it again. The boring parts very much outweigh the interesting parts.

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